Page 38 of Break Out the Girl

He scowls, but unseriously. “Careful, chipie. I am still a de Vaux, and we detest being psychoanalyzed.”

Ha. I file that nugget of information away to torment him with at a later date. “What about…”

A screech of static explodes from François’s waistband. The walkie-talkie.

Tally’s voice distorts through the tiny plastic speaker. “Rory? Frank? Do you copy? Head towards the forest edge, by a row of garages. Go now. We have a window of opportunity, but we have to move. Now, guys, now!”

13: LONDON

Got to admit, Burt has this whole espionage thing down.

“The name’s Burly, James Burly,” I whisper in his ear. But because he has spy-mode activated he doesn’t reply—which makes perfect sense. Spies know when to keep mum.

So I need to get with the program too. Faun-senses activated.

The air is filled with strange vibrations.

Even without seeing anyone, I can feel bodies moving. They all seem to be heading in one direction. I think it’s the office on the back side of this monstrous mansion.

Oh! I bet they’re having a staff meeting!

I felt pretty chuffed with myself, so tell Wolfy-Burt (Wurt?) my thoughts.

“When the staff are away, the faun can play…” I whisper.

And I want to start playing right now.

Waiting in these bushes has done nothing to quieten the squirmy worms. My belly is filled with them. They hate this place.

They remember the smells; sea air—mixed with cleaning products and fear.

It’s making my hooves want to double-time-it back to the Sadie-Mae and leave this place behind me. Set to sea and never ever turn back.

Though if I turned back, maybe this mansion would turn into a pillar of salt and that would be A-OK with me.

Wump-ppp.

Kitten!

She’s headed this way.

Bingo, right on cue, the bushes push apart and out pops my lass in her mackintosh. She’s followed by Shivery Shane, who is looking remarkably smug.

Ooh-er.

I don't even need my faun-radar to feel the massive change in the air. The static charge between them is bouncing around like pinballs. Kitten’s lips are pink and puffy. Hmm, I know the look of a proper snogging when I see it!

Well, well, well.

I give Shane a little nudge with my hairy elbow as he slides into the shadows beside Burt.

I’m a little-bit hoping his shivery-yikes factor might ratchet down a notch now he’s had a nice cuddle. It’s an intense vibration.

Burt’s massive wolf-jaw lets out a hot huff of steam that turns back into human breath as his bones do the wet click-crack shift. Within two seconds, he’s back but his face is not half as relaxed as Shane’s.

“We think they’re having a staff meeting. So I figure there’ll be minimal security for at least twenty minutes. London needs to lead us in to find Sky. François, I want you to keep back and fend off anyone who looks like they’re coming our way.”

Shane gives his shiveriest glare to Burt. “That makes no sense. I will be going with Aurora and London. Your canine ears will be preferable as a defensive line.”